Waldo Weekend Campout

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2013 Waldo Lake Car Campout and Hiking Weekend -
August 23 to 25

Why We're Camping Out

Waldo Lake from The TwinsCampfire Gathering Waldo Lake Shadow BayThe Oregon Sierra Club Eastside Forest Committee has initiated a campaign to provide greater protection for the forested areas east of Waldo Lake, a beautiful region 35 miles southwest of Bend containing abundant old growth and roadless areas. Currently it is unprotected beyond its federal forest status. For more information on what we're proposing, look at our Keep Waldo Wild web page. This weekend car campout is designed to introduce you Waldo Lake’s environs and treat you to its plentiful attractions. We hope you’ll become as excited about preserving the area east and south of Waldo Lake as we are!

Who's Invited?

Everyone who cares about Waldo Lake and preserving an untrammeled old growth forest experience! Last year we had 50 campers from the Juniper (Bend), Many Rivers (Eugene), and Mary's Peak (Corvallis), and Columbia (Portland) Sierra Club Groups plus several new faces to all of us. This year, we're hoping even more "Waldonians" will join us, so we've again reserved the same group campsite (see below) that will accommodate up to 120 campers.

Shadow Bay Campground

The 2013 Waldo Weekend Campout will be held August 23-25, Friday-Sunday, at the Shadow Bay Campground on the southern end of the lake. Group Site B, Sites 25 thru 43, is reserved for Friday and Saturday nights and will accommodate 60 to 120 people.

Your party will be asked to share a campsite with other parties unless you have a large number (more than six) in your party. The campground has the usual Forest Service toilet and drinking water facilities, but no showers or electrical hookups.

Because of the significant cost of reserving the Group campsite, you are being asked to pay $20 per person for the entire weekend (two nights).

There are additional single campsites available that accommodate 6 people each for $20 per night per campsite. You can reserve these campsites (you pay) through the recreation.gov - Shadow Bay website.

How to Register

You can register by:

• Send an email or call Deb Brewer, our campsite coordinator, requesting a campsite reservation. or
• Use our automated Waldo Weekend Campout Signup form to reserve a campsite.

You can make payment by:

• Pay by check. Check should be payable to "Juniper Group Sierra Club" for $20 per person for the weekend (see amount explanation above). Mail to: Juniper Group Sierra Club, c/o Environmental Center, 16 NW Kansas, Bend, OR 97701.
• Pay by credit card. payment by credit card using our secure credit card payment page at Waldo Weekend Campout Payment.

Big Note: Your reservation is not complete until you have both: registered; and made payment by either check or credit card.

Legal Stuff

Each participant will be asked to sign the Sierra Club Sign-in Sheet and Liability Waiver form when you arrive for the Campout Weekend. Also, if there are children in your party, we will ask the accompanying adult to sign an Individual Liability Waiver for Minors. And while Shadow Bay Campground is not all that remote, it is many miles from the nearest medical facility, so if you have a significant medical problem, please let us know. We may ask you to fill out our Medical Form so we are fully aware of your condition and its implications for our planned activities.

Children and Dogs

Children are welcome to the campout, though most hikes will be too difficult for younger children.

Dogs are also welcome to camp if trained and quiet. However, we are asking you to tell us if you are bringing a dog so we can keep a running tally of how many dogs are coming: too many dogs in strange surroundings can make it unpleasant for all, including the dogs. In addition, if you want to bring your dog on a hike, each trip leader will want to know about your dog’s training and experience before accepting it on a hike, and we may need to limit the number of dogs on any one hike for everyone's enjoyment and safety.

Weekend Schedule and Hikes

There will be a variety of hikes to accommodate different fitness levels and abilities so everyone has a chance to see a beautiful spot and enjoy the outing. Depending on the number of campers and available hike leaders, the number of hikes will be expanded to accommodate everyone and provide a variety for different interests and abilities. You can also swim, sail, kayak, bike, or hike on your own, but we cannot organize or assume responsibility for those activities you may choose to do on your own. Our preliminary weekend schedule is:

Friday:

• 2 to 7 PM - Check-in to campsite
• Dinner - each party provide own food and eat on their own schedule
• 7 PM - Welcome: Sign-in, brief Waldo campaign orientation, hike preference sign-up
• Campfire - toward dark, let's all gather at group campsite, introduce ourselves, have some refreshment (bring snacks to share), and swap some lies

Saturday:

The TwinsSisters from North Twin Bobby Lake Reverie Betty Lake Waldo Lake from Fuji Mtn.

• 7 AM - Breakfast, each party bring your own
• 8:30 AM – Muster for Outings: Hikes and Leaders will be announced based on Friday signups.
• 9:15 AM - Depart for Hikes. Below are the planned hike options:
  • Shorter hikes:
    • Bobby Lake – 4.5 miles round trip with 400 feet elevation gain. Beautiful smaller lake between Maiden Peak and the Twins.
    • Betty Lake Basin – about 3 miles round trip right out of the campground with about 350 feet elevation gain.
    • Jo-Ann Lake - 4.8 miles, 800 feet. A hike through old growth forest to a beautiful alpine lake typical of the area. There are some very nice picnic spots on the lake to have lunch. Lorin Lake is another half mile if people want to extend the trip a little.
    • South Waldo Shelter – 3.2 miles, zero elevation gain. Hike from Shadow Bay on the Waldo Lake trail to the South Waldo shelter on level trail. There are options to continue farther along the Waldo Lake trail if desired, and a side trip to Bingo Lake that adds 2.3 miles and about 100 feet of elevation.
  • More difficult hikes:
    • Charlton Lake to Hidden Lake with an option to climb Gerdine Butte - 5 miles, 800 feet. This is a real cool hike with similar scenery to the hike up the Twins, but less elevation gain and about half the distance. Hidden Lake is a short scramble off trail, and is really beautiful.
    • Beyond Jo-Ann Lake (see shorter hike above) - 9 miles, 1300 feet. Continue beyond Jo-Ann Lake (see above) to either Gold Lake or the South Waldo Shelter. Both options add 4-5 miles with a short section of off trail scrambling through stands of Mountain Hemlock. Expect huckleberries, signs of black bears, Blue Grouse, and solitude for your effort.
• 4 PM - Happy Hour in the group campsite. Bring your own beverages and snacks to share.
• 5:30 PM - Potluck Dinner Hour. There's a large group campsite where we can eat together. We're providing turkey, salmon, vege burgers, and buns. You bring your favorite beverage and a side dish to share such as salad (green, potato, fruit, pasta, etc.), beans, or dessert. We'll provide firewood for the group campfire.
• 7 PM - Keep Waldo Wild Campaign:
  • Impressions: We want to hear about your day in Waldo.
  • Waldo Campaign: Dave Stowe will update us all on the Waldo Protection Campaign.
  • Call to Action: We'll tell you how you can help protect the Waldo area and ask for your ideas.
• 8:30 PM 'til who knows when ... - spinning yarns and strumming and singing by the campfire. So bring your guitars or other musical devotions and we'll get to know each other the old fashioned way. Smores, too.

Sunday:

• 7 AM or so - Breakfast. You're on your own.
• 8:30 AM - Short or long hikes as people desire to accommodate traveling home. Suggested hikes (if you did one of these Saturday, switch hikes):
  • Fuji Mountain - 3.4 miles with 900 feet elevation gain to one of the best vantage points in the area. Great view of Waldo Lake. This hike is a good option for West Siders to head home from since the access road is off of Hwy 58 toward Oakridge.
  • Hidden Lake – 4.8 miles, 500 feet. Hike from Charlton Lake through old growth forest to the aptly named Hidden Lake. The first mile and a half are on the trail to The Twins, then we go off trail for about a mile to Hidden Lake. There is an option of continuing on another half mile and 400 feet elevation to the summit of Gerdine Butte for a panoramic view of the area.
  • Bobby Lake – 4.5 miles round trip with 400 feet elevation gain. Beautiful smaller lake between Maiden Peak and the Twins.
  • Betty Lake Basin – about 3 miles round trip right out of the campground with about 350 feet elevation gain.
• 12 PM - Lunch. Again, you provide.
• 1 PM - Break camp, head home, happy campers.